Saucon Valley Narrowly Votes To Keep 6 Guidance Counselors

Liberty High School counselor Dale Fritchman was hired to replace a Saucon Valley High School counselor who switched to the English department. Fritchman will be paid an annual salary of $33,700.

The board's fiscal conservatives had threatened for months to refuse to fill the vacancy. This alarmed Assistant Superintendent Mary Rita Colarusso, who said all six counselors were needed to meet mandated special education identification and referral deadlines, to say nothing of the other scheduling, college and career planning and crisis-intervention needs of students.

Board member John Wieczorek began last night's debate by asking for proof that six counselors are needed in the district. Board member Robert Osmun echoed the request for attendance and disciplinary records that would show whether six counselors are needed.

The two were joined by board members Frank Vasko and Michael Yamnicky in voting against the hire.

"There is no identified need that justifies that large a staff," Osmun said, though the position and salary are in the current district budget.

Gilman and Macarro had voiced support for keeping the guidance staff at full force. The swing votes belonged to Bednarik and Lazar, both of whom recently voted with the majority to cut midday kindergarten bus runs.

The busing cut was another high-profile budget-slashing proposal offered by the board conservatives.

Lazar, who rarely speaks at public meetings, remained mum during the debate. Bednarik said he reached his decision after "much soul searching."

He said ideally it wouldn't fall to counselors to give students the guidance and understanding they should find at home and church, but parents and churches are not getting the job done for all children.

"One thing I've become painfully aware of is the neglect some children are seeing from their parents," Bednarik said. "It's the parents responsibility, but some of them are failing."